Kingdom · 1516–1902
Kebbi
The last of the Hausa states to emerge, Kebbi was founded by Muhammadu Kanta, a Katsina-born champion wrestler who became a captain in Songhai's army and rebelled in 1516 over his share of the spoils from Aïr.
At a glance
- When did the Kebbi exist?
- From 1516 to 1902. It was at its height around 1530.
- What was the capital of the Kebbi?
- Surame.
- What was the ruler of the Kebbi called?
- Kanta, later Sarkin Kebbi.
- What happened to the Kebbi?
- The Emir of Argungu, heir of Kanta's line, reigns in Kebbi State; the Argungu fishing festival is held on the river every year.
- Who lives in the lands of the Kebbi today?
- Hausa
Overview
The last of the Hausa states to emerge, Kebbi was founded by Muhammadu Kanta, a Katsina-born champion wrestler who became a captain in Songhai's army and rebelled in 1516 over his share of the spoils from Aïr. He beat every Songhai army sent against him, and from his walled cities of Leka, Gungu, Silame and above all Surame he took tribute from much of Hausaland, Aïr, Nupe and Borgu, and held off Bornu. After his death the empire fell away, and around 1715 Zamfara, Gobir and Agadez threw it off. The jihad took Birnin Kebbi in 1805, but the Kebbawa fought on from Argungu for nearly a century.[1],[2]Medium confidence
Through the centuries
- 1516–1530
Kanta rebels against Songhai
Kanta, a captain in Askia Muhammad's army, returns from the Aïr campaign of 1515 to be told that claiming his share of the spoils would make him a rebel. His men say they will be rebels with him. He beats the army the Askia sends in 1517, and makes himself king of the Rima valley from Leka, nine villages walled into one.[1],[2]High confidence
Capital: Leka (approximate)
- 1530–1561
Kanta's empire
From Surame, seven walled towns one inside another with 49 gates, Kanta takes tribute in men and wealth from Gobir, Katsina, Kano, Zazzau, Zamfara, Yauri, Nupe, Borgu and Aïr; the Nupe, late with their tribute, are made to mix the mortar of their stretch of wall with shea butter. Askia Muhammad Benkan (1531–1537) barely escapes a Kebbi rout. A Bornu army besieges Surame and withdraws when it sees the walls lined with grinning defenders, who are in fact dead men, their lips slit: “dariya ba loto”. Kanta dies in the 1550s from a wound taken near Katsina on a campaign against Bornu.[1],[2]Medium confidence
Capital: Surame
Claims that Kanta ruled all Hausaland come from tradition and are disputed.
- 1561–1700
The empire falls away
After Kanta the Hausa states stop paying tribute and his successor Ahmadu does not fight for it. Kano and Katsina back a rival claimant in Agadez and Kebbi loses Aïr. By the end of the 16th century Kebbi is a small kingdom again, still ruling the Rima valley from Surame and then Birnin Kebbi.[2],[1]Medium confidence
Capital: Surame
- c. 1700–1805
Birnin Kebbi, and the revolt of 1715
Surame is abandoned and Birnin Kebbi becomes the capital. Around 1715 Zamfara, Gobir and Agadez rise together, drive Kebbi's army back to the Gulbin Ka and capture its king, Muhammadu dan Giwa. Kebbi is still one of the leading states of Hausaland in 1800.[2],[3]Medium confidence
Capital: Birnin Kebbi
- 1805–1849
The jihad takes Birnin Kebbi
Abdullahi dan Fodio's jihadists take Birnin Kebbi and set up the Gwandu emirate on most of the kingdom, with a puppet king. The ousted Sarki Muhammadu Hodi fights on in the Zamfara valley, and his successor Karari from Argungu and Zazzagawa. When Karari dies in 1831 his son Yakubu Nabame surrenders and spends sixteen years in exile at Sokoto.[2]High confidence
- 1849–1902
Independent again at Argungu
Allowed home to Argungu as a vassal, Yakubu Nabame declares himself Sarkin Kebbi again in 1849 and survives a siege of Argungu by Sokoto. His brother Yusufu Mainasara falls in battle in 1859; Gwandu's emir Haliru is killed at Karakara in 1860. The Fulani recognise Kebbi's independence by treaty in 1867, war resumes in 1875 over the town of Fanna, and Sarkin Kebbi Sama'ila wins a string of victories over Gwandu from 1883 until the British end the fighting in 1902–1903.[2]High confidence
Capital: Argungu
Wars, treaties and turning points
Today
Emir of Argungu (Sarkin Kebbi), Argungu
The Emir of Argungu, heir of Kanta's line, reigns in Kebbi State; the Argungu fishing festival is held on the river every year.[2]Medium confidence
Its people
Living in its lands today
Peoples whose homelands lie inside its lands at its height, by number of LGAs.
Sources
Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).